A sequel to Atlas of Extinct Animals and Atlas of Endangered Animals, this large-format encyclopedia focuses on the world's largest group of animals-insects.

Insects are the most diverse and abundant creatures on Earth, yet we often overlook their critical role in our ecosystem. Insectopia, the third book in the Large Encyclopedias series, invites young readers to explore the fascinating world of insects with expert entomologist Jiri Kolibac and the stunning illustrations of Pavel Dvorsky and his wife Pavla Dvorsky.

With 96 pages of engaging content and lifelike full-page illustrations, Insectopia provides an immersive journey into the realm of these tiny creatures, whose behavior, shapes, and colors surprise us with their complexity. Kids will learn about the full range of topics related to insects, including complex rituals of courtship, tender care for offspring, organization of insect states, wars over food sources, and various insect features (scents, colorful wings, sharp mandibles, etc.).

Sections include:

• Anatomy and Body Structure of Insects: How insects have a segmented body with a hard exoskeleton.

• Orders of Insects: The best-known groups of winged insects and their common and scientific names.

• Biology and Development of Insects: How insects undergo various metamorphoses.

• Evolution of Insects: The evolutionary relationships of insects.

• Evolutionary Tree of Insects: A tree graph showing the evolutionary relationships among different insect groups.

• Dawn of the Insects: The evolution and diversification of insects during various periods, including the emergence of flight and the extinction of certain insect orders.

• Diversification of Insects: The development of insect life through different geological periods, including their coevolution with plants and their rise to dominance.

• Courtship and Nuptial Gifts: How male insects often present a nuptial gift to the female, who chooses the suitor with the largest or most alluring gift.

• Adapting to Island Life: How isolated islands are home to unique plants and animals, some of which undergo insular gigantism, and are threatened by introduced predators.

• Fighting for the Female: Insects often engage in contests to produce offspring with a female, with the best-performing male often winning.

• Flying Acrobats: Dragonflies are ancient predators with exceptional flying abilities.

• The Short Life of the Mayfly: Mayflies have a brief lifespan of just a few hours to a few days, during which they mate, lay eggs, and die.

• Insect States: Termites live in large colonies with specialized castes, with worker termites providing food and defense and soldier termites fighting spraying predators.

• Slave-Makers, Slaves, and Warriors: Ants engage in aggressive behavior and interspecies wars.

• Courtship in the Hills: Insects gather on the tops of hills to find a mate, with males competing for the most visible spots, and this also attracts insectivorous birds and predators.

• Life in Darkness: Caves are home to uniquely adapted insects that are fairly different than those that live in the daylight.

• Farmer Ants: How large ant colonies are complex "state" organizations comprised of workers, soldiers, a queen and her entourage, nurses, foragers, and other occupations.

• Coexistence: How anthills are places where ants and other insects form complex relationships of mutual benefit or parasitism.

In addition to exploring this complex world of insects, young readers will also discover the importance of insects to humankind and all life on our planet. They will learn about how insects are found everywhere, from arid deserts to freshwater pools, and how they play a crucial role in pollination, decomposition, and pest control.

Written for children aged 12-15 who are nature lovers, biology enthusiasts, or just curious about the world around us, Insectopia is an essential addition to any young reader's library. This informative and beautifully illustrated encyclopedia highlights the importance of insects and their contribution to our world. Whether used as a reference for school or as a fun read at home, Insectopia is a must-have resource for any young nature lover.

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About the Author

Jiri Kolibac has had a lifelong fascination with the natural sciences, particularly marine life and insects. As a child, he was fascinated by the natural sciences, especially sea life, and because he lived so far away from it, he studied the ecology of mammals (at the Czech Academy of Sciences), graduating with a doctoral degree in the zoology of vertebrates in 1992. Having published on beetles during his student days, Jiri returned to the Moravian Museum to focus on the paleontology and evolution of beetles. As an active sportsman, he enjoys kayaking, diving, skiing, and tending to his bonsai collection. He is currently the Head of Entomology at the Moravian Museum in Brno, Czech Republic.

Pavel Dvorsky is a Czech commercial and graphic artist who has illustrated dozens of science and popular science publications. From 1966-1972, he studied Illustration at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague, and afterward returned to Brno, where he established the Department of Graphic Design and Illustration at the Secondary School for Art and Design. In reconstructing the prehistoric world, Dvorsky has collaborated with many anthropologists and archeologists. In addition to his commercial and graphic artwork, he has designed stamps for the Czech Post Office since 2004. He was born in Brno in 1946.

Reviews

Selected for the CBC's 2023 November Hot Off The Press Reading List (https://www.cbcbooks.org/cbc-book-lists/november-2023/)

"Anyone wishing to while away time with a most interesting look at insects will enjoy this book." -Katrina Yurenka, Retired Librarian, Contributor, Youth Services Book Review (5 stars)

"This book is packed full of information. Scientific (but down-to-earth), well-researched and very thorough. Beautiful artistic renderings not only capture the insects, but also show them in their natural environments carrying out everyday activities." -Erica Baxter, Goodreads

"This is a very thorough insect encyclopedia and has awesome artwork for each section. I think any child who loves bugs would find this fascinating." -Michelle Smith, Goodreads

"A very useful illustration shows a large tree with relationships between the insect species and we get to see who is closest to being cousins. I've learned a lot from this book that includes a lot of chapters and beautiful illustrations not only dedicated to the different insect species but to giving us an insight into their dawn of times, evolution, reproduction, body structure, co-operations between species, strangest shapes, strange habits." -Therearenobadbooks, Goodreads

"This book is full of great information and gorgeous illustrations of species of insects. It' would be great for an insect study." -Cheyenne S., NetGalley-Educator

"This is a gorgeous book. The full-page illustrations of each insect are stunning and detailed. The text has a ton of fascinating information." -Shilo Q., NetGalley-Reviewer

"Insectopia: The Wonderful World of Insects is an oversized book suitable for display. It's designed to attract readers of all ages with lovely illustrations by Pavla Dvorska and Pavel Dvorsky, which bring full-page wonder and exceptionally artistic efforts to illustrate many facts about the insect world. The combination of art and insect facts is lovely in a title replete with insights and beautiful images, designed to entertain and educate all in one. Libraries and readers will find it visually attractive and educationally alluring." -Donovan's Literary Services

"Insectopia is a beautifully illustrated all ages book about insects by Dr. Jiri Kolibac and illustrated by Pavel and Pavla Dvorsky. The drawings are realistically rendered in color in pencil. The illustrations are anatomically detailed and the book/writing is also scientifically accurate and up to date. The author writes engagingly and accessibly, with simple language which will be easy for readers to understand. Although it's billed as juvenile non-fiction, all ages will find it interesting and educational. This would make a great choice for public or school library acquisition, for home use, or for gift giving to a bug-interested youngster." -Annie, NetGalley-Reviewer

"The drawings are realistically rendered in color in pencil. The illustrations are anatomically detailed, some showing them in their natural environments. I recommend Insectopia: The Wonderful World of Insects to teachers and educators." -Cherokee Crum, YA Books Central

"This book is teeming with life! Through full-colour, full-page detailed illustrations, that somehow feel both pastoral and sharply realistic, this book comes alive. Written in an engaging, conversational style, readers will be absorbed in The Wonderful World of Insects while learning complex information from mimicry and coexistence to the full range offeatures (like bugs' scents). This book is both comprehensive and absorbing. This encyclopedia is aimed at readers 12 - 15, but younger audiences will love learning interesting facts (e.g. did you know that fireflies speak to each other in a kind of Morse Code through their flickering light?) and want to pour over the exceptional artwork. This book feels like a fresh-take on an encyclopedia - one thatcould sit out on the coffee table and be enjoyed by anyone who picks it up. Importantly, this book reminds readers how important even the teeniest animals is important to life on our planet-and by extension, why our perception matters!" -Fairytales and Fingerpaints, IG

"Insectopia: The Wonderful World of Insects is a phenomenonal encyclopedia all about the lives of insects. This extra large book is packed with fascinating information, paired with absolutely gorgeous illustrations. It gives readers an in-depth look at a variety of insects, from their anatomy to their adaptations and everything in between. Best for a middle school audience and above, this is an excellent resource for any home or classroom. There's SO much to learn from this one!" -Fun Reads for Kids, IG

"There is so much information packed into this book that it's hard to pick out my favorite parts! Here's why I recommend this one: It is broken into sections, including anatomy, biology, diversification, adaptation, courtship, and coexistence; Explains the importance of insects in our world; The illustrations are stunning and detailed!" -Mr. J.S. Thornton, IG

"Insectopia is a treasure trove of information. Each two-page spread showcases a particular topic, devoting one page to exquisite illustration and one page to informational text. The text covers fascinating content and is captivating; you'll come away amazed at what you learned and surprised by how much you read - time stops when you are reading, so engrossing is the writing. This oversized book is interesting, provides vast detail ideal for middle grade readers, and covers extensive topics of interest. Insectopia is an impressive publication that I expect will be a hit with budding entomologists." -Glass of Wine, Glass of Milk blog

Book Information
ISBN 9788000069685
Author Jiri Kolibac
Format Hardback
Page Count 96
Imprint Albatros nakladatelstvi as
Publisher Albatros nakladatelstvi as